The IOC will expand its investigation of the Salt Lake
City bribery scandal to include other cities, according to
William Drozdiak in a front-page report in the WASHINGTON
POST. IOC Dir General Francois Carrard said that a six-
member IOC investigating committee is now "gathering facts
worldwide" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/19). Meanwhile, more charges
and allegations continued to mount against the Games:
In Toronto, James Christie reports that IOC President
Juan Antonio Samaranch "knew of and approved" an arrangement
by which the husband of a Finnish IOC member received a job
in Canada and had his housing paid for while Toronto was
bidding for the '96 Games (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/19)....The
Toronto GLOBE & MAIL and WALL STREET JOURNAL both report on
the contract awarded by the SLOC to Spanish TV exec Manolo
Romero. Romero, who won the bid to be the 2002 Games' host
broadcaster despite an offer that was charging "roughly"
$20M more than other bidders, has "close ties" to the IOC
(WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/19)....Stephanie Pate, the former
secretary to former SLOC President Tom Welch, has been
subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury. She is
"not believed" to be a target of the investigation. Pate
now works for US West as a liaison to the SLOC (WASHINGTON
POST, 1/19)....Federal investigators have begun formal
inquiries into escort services in the Salt Lake City area,
which could "culminate with a review of charge-card records
and business files" at the SLOC (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/16).
SAMARANCH BACKS SALT LAKE: Samaranch "hinted" the IOC
may help Salt Lake City organizers make-up any financial
shortfall resulting from the bribery scandal: "It depends on
what help Salt Lake City wants. We will find a solution. We
continue to support the Games of Salt Lake City. For me
there is no alternative" (AP, 1/18). Anti-Olympics
activists "vowed" to gather petition signatures for a ballot
initiative in 2000 on the future of the Games in Salt Lake
unless lawmakers call a "special election" this spring. But
state legislators said they "are not ready to order a public
vote on the Olympics" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/19). Meanwhile,
the SLOC has made the following "structural changes" to keep
the preparations "on track." Among some moves: MARY GADDIE
was promoted to Managing Dir of Games Presentations; CFO
MARK TANNER will oversee Games Marketing; Senior
VP/Communications SHELLY THOMAS will oversee Games
Presentations & Ceremonies (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/16).